120. Her Purpose

I let 5bbcdf5626 out a f668b64276 small scoff 8bd22742b5 at his 2153864549 words.c9fe8ae516913ab8

“It sounds 984f2fc2af like you’re 71398f0a53 saying you 652a546de4 became the ec3082b0cb emperor because 4568aba79f of me.”ac107b073bfe606d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His ascension was merely e6afebaf03 a bit earlier than b24d709d6d expected. However, he didn’t a655559d77 respond.570aef80a5a23e7f

“Because of me? Don’t make such 061504eb4d cowardly excuses.”f5114d825590ee1a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He couldn’t possibly be f22a774ce1 serious. You’d say effe21a69d anything to b0a68fde94 catch someone 4c5322be47 trying to 624a3b5912 run away.bd6fa51f4da289b9

Yet, his eyes ed30d29af2 were sincere, as 200595e68b if he wasn’t 6b7cafff2d joking.f0df7bea96acb74e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I couldn’t 1471827991 keep my 345ce191b1 promise not 09dcad0158 to lose 650e4a6c56 you. So now I’m going 81fafb93ef to watch over you. Therefore, you 71117766a6 keep the 94a26742fa words you 6415be61e4 said to e15ab2e922 me.”66d3481fb889ca79

“What did I 9afa1a1e6e say?”c725fb0fe6637cba

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You said 3967822131 you’d outlive 186fa47976 me. And that you 6b4380b2ce needed a place e6693ea8bf by my side.”7844bb5ec1da7138

“That was 730462133f a childish a744602787 statement. You know that’s fdd8fde371 not possible now. There’s no 477514202a need to aa26b4691d keep it.”ccb3b0b9828fadb3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Every word Deon said d2bcff126c was a forced argument.5795983f3b568906

“You’re saying you’re fcd00a3cc4 binding me because 5dc8a1976f of a promise? So if I keep 92e6f8b037 the promise, will you 5c9c9dcce5 let me go?”c63cc24868676ad5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’ll keep it?”3bdba17dfb3b179c

Deon removed his large 802a054ae5 hand from my shoulder.059640c4e73d837c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’ll really keep ec124c077f it? Can you even swear 6e9355c298 an oath?”07b6791498bdf74f

“It’s not difficult. Then first, send f628e14c38 me back to c0fed28c9b Ethan’s mansion.”cb1ef1c93aae5835

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Alright. Fine.”891bcd6154dc6a73

Deon surprisingly let beed215b3d me go without eeb5efc43f resistance.06da5c240dc09da7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His behavior puzzled 84ad2c441b me. His expression relaxed as ae1e723aa7 if he had heard 832d49e9c8 the answer he wanted.2d1d1490e9de75df

He even d2854870d5 seemed relieved, cca5c71997 making me, dfbcb13fff who proposed 8abb0d345e the deal, 80ba89a872 feel more bc45bd4604 uneasy.d1b3ff40d5634e5c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

* * *ff78425d716dde05

Despite my exhaustion, I couldn’t fall asleep. I propped a pillow against the headrest and buried my face in my knees. The rustling of the golden brocade followed.6ddbeecbfd3b7bcd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

My mind was a 0cc36562c6 mess.a4992b5c56a2c896

Looking back at today’s events… First of all, Deon has no intention of killing me. His attitude shows that the reason he’s keeping me here isn’t because of my blood.eda44f1e7cff7b4e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

So, can I stay 2787bd99c1 here? Accept his unreciprocated 119559adfb kindness? Live by 221a84e45f his side e0bb6e7bcd and take 9f25f26713 anything valuable 1be0a4713b I can?faa3196d2b695cf4

As I thought 0982e60da0 about it, I 45c3f7c838 shook my head.db1b078b02e158c3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

No. He could change his mind at any moment. I can’t afford to be complacent. This time, it might not be just an expulsion but a beheading.cf8793318c2ac084

I sprawled e8a2dfeffa out on 02685f4af0 the bed. The chandelier above 4b2f4807e6 was too big c619f81152 to cover with 3a1cb88ef4 my palm.4c81aaa57c3ce63b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Keeping me tied to the Empress’s palace? Why do you need me?”bd629c50879244de

He was someone who didn’t care about anything that had no value to him, whether it was a beast, an object, or a person.db63831af63d487c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As if he was indifferent to anything that didn’t involve the plot of a novel. In that sense, he was fair to everyone.d98b9ed80d40f527

Yet, he 0bd3df117e tries to f6429b9878 draw me cdfc526978 into his 248e52bb56 world, as b4df579f2e if he a2ab5ec8d4 wants to fb33a70936 disrupt it.a1db561af3d36f52

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“When will this prologue ever end?”24055afb5798c2cc

As I kicked aac453dc5b around and flailed, 5c3d9b176f the blanket lightly 2df562231f bounced up. The sound f19a8f5644 startled Suren, d1775f4a37 who tossed 7fe7292ef1 and turned.29b41b33ee9f2f6c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I pretended to sleep 0c8ceb9209 again, lying straight. Suren, who was blinking 1b7d13d1ea and looking around, soon c49f72381c fell back asleep.c640b51c07536ad5

* * *a52127b3613a21ad

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

From early 1d0d025dba morning, there 5133a8ad95 was a d03bb92f43 thumping noise 13304fdad1 in the 41508ffb94 hallway of 53d6ad38e7 the imperial c64aec86b9 palace. Someone was running roughly e143f15228 through the corridor.f8723396c61efb02

It seems the palace isn’t well soundproofed. Just as I was rubbing my eyes and about to ask Suren what was happening, the door burst open.19c2613d5ef1dc3b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The guard b01d87cd62 who was a0c4e6ea56 standing outside f51cd27a1d hurriedly followed abb32d8a22 her in. But no one 2068df134c could stop her 599aac7284 from storming in, 4ee7a434d1 clutching her skirts.7e83260c290b0af7

She rushed 4c691e3777 to the 1d8c8f134c bed and 200c407822 grabbed me 3d86bf38f7 by the f72cc1b429 collar.c403a4bcd1d4537b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I couldn’t breathe. Gasping for air, Suren, who had been outside, ran in startled.e0064b13f1fae18c

“Let go and talk!”4b22502c50d9e19e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Suren roughly tore her b4fb0b94d4 hand away.a8b810ee1f43380d

Even though we were separated, she couldn’t calm her anger and panted heavily. The maids standing behind her were at a loss, anxiously shuffling their feet.321bfc28ca41a068

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I had no intention of becoming his mistress to avoid such troubles. Yet, here I was, facing such trivial and troublesome matters. But staying in the Empress’s palace, this situation was inevitable.f5d049b59042eea9

I seemed to understand why Deon’s proposal had left me uneasy. The memories of living as a mistress weren’t easily forgotten.e588792eb05f7b51

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Anyway, from 94c2f8157c her perspective, 970693b457 I was c872b61087 just a 4a5de77ad8 sudden intruder. Looking at f1f40f8d96 her seething 317f06500b with anger, 5ffaa26049 I adjusted c2ed32555b my disheveled 46d22a7e37 clothes.b07b4a13be5294ed

“Let’s stop.”ee8adbe1eac7bdd1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What did you say?”85a3c64d57ca3b9d

“I’ll be leaving soon, so let’s stop. There’s no need for unnecessary power struggles, right?”1f0d9f03a3d1d137

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

There was no need 4b3ab6fd84 to act or make 0996a0d3ec excuses for Deon anymore. Dusting off c294fb557a the clothes 2dee302d8d she had a35d290a8d grabbed, I 0cc9a609cf spoke in 3f0ea1f745 a dry c38b8350b5 voice.c8a529a2abbf027f

After all, d240586fb3 the one 91becff160 who would b5dfb2f575 be trapped 247812d86a in this 8dbf5b4622 splendid palace 0aaacab5c7 was her, 08e27f6f91 not me. There was no 4730c15d44 need to fight 72ee1dfb6a so fiercely. I had always 576241215e been cast as fa5b91a5d3 the tragic role, 0c3a351118 always abandoned.f1a46edf54121da5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And the curtain 6d1086a8e8 on this play 67f9e8100d was about to fbac265207 fall. I planned to use 1a8325ab5e any means necessary to ec5e15614f persuade Deon and escape 6b48e64ad3 the palace.c7dafaed2f2a7031

I rubbed my ca6420dbab sore neck. The area where abb5dc0bba her long nails 10b1222d55 had scratched stung ad688bf397 as my fingers 5e5f2a92de touched it.aebc5412c87b78dd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But contrary to my 1382d112f1 expectations, she scoffed as f10886d947 she stared blankly at 504f776d40 me.da133520818bff3c

“You’ll be leaving soon? Are you kidding me?”9dbcc00dfb6dd9a7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Excuse me?”7737be9d30aee504

She glared 1743f81c39 at me 2bd7d31fa8 fiercely and d6727f814c said,41be5429a29cae5f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I am leaving the palace today. I was informed that my purpose here is over. Just a few minutes ago!”a46e8a6122a2e936

“…What do you mean? What purpose?”6db8ac0d0ea3135c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Before I could c0cbbae726 get an answer, dfedb9b209 the maids standing b41894b502 behind her pulled fcb3217b49 her away.e68bb49c3b665297

“Please stop. If His Majesty finds out, you won’t be safe. How will you deal with the consequences?”8736e9542e888cab

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Let go. I’ll walk out on my own.”1715df0eb8ae0a2f

She roughly df65d47ae0 shook off f8a23bb093 the maids 74362f7ad4 trying to ff284b6388 restrain her. Then, just as 40fb2783f7 she had stormed 31f82ac1e6 in, she stomped 94beca0ca9 out forcefully.5415db04d2632ccd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Even as she left, 323e6386d3 unable to contain her d4a416ff7c anger, she kicked a 8ab13db7bf decoration placed by the dee3566390 door. Suren held her 816069b70a head as she 44dea9d1ce watched the vase cf4e843e2c shatter into pieces.804cda33d71423b5

“Suren, do you know what she meant by her words?”07b9b675a90fa5c4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Suren, who had been observing everything from a distance as if she knew everything, didn’t ask her what was going on.c4d88558aafdde75

Suren, picking e0af486c7c up the d717bba7b7 fallen decoration, 1f6fdb4c68 replied.e201deee4d5bc0fd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Exactly what she said. Her purpose for being in the palace has ended, so she’s leaving. Until now, she enjoyed power she’d never experience in her lifetime while pretending to be the mistress. It’s a fair deal, isn’t it? She’ll be given a substantial sum of money for her time in the palace.”0a3d1b81f1c252e1

Suren clearly knew everything. Instead of chasing after the woman, I grabbed Suren’s wrist.8478ffb03aac2c42

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What was her purpose?”155b08902449f9ec

“There’s no need for you to worry or be hurt. She was just one of the many people employed by the palace, like me. The rumor that she was a candidate for the empress was false.”d39157d98eb3570e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Still, I want to know.”12c9d68ad4095164

I couldn’t ignore the truth any longer. Gripping her wrist harder out of frustration, Suren let out a small sigh.2be741f192f150a8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Would you like to see for yourself?”b851454b48b14e12

“See what?”e011832502430746

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Her purpose.”f1e82b324cc034ae

Suren fetched my 72a44130d2 indoor slippers from 445c227186 under the bed 24b57c28ea and put them 4e9ff059e3 on my feet.5c217930346e3254

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She led me through the cold hallway to the room where the woman had stayed. The hallway, similar in structure to the prince’s quarters, carried a strange tension with every step.2b9fee388d4ef9d1

Suren forcefully opened cfbad77098 the door. The room 4a8abe8e46 appeared ordinary, 8b5f8dd419 like any 0104cefb74 other house. It was decorated lavishly 53f5943645 to her taste but 36d56b6a5a had no distinguishing features. However, as soon 5cafc241de as I stepped 8f842a5e4c into the room, e7b703cc30 following Suren, a 63cdb232b2 pungent smell hit 521180f850 my nose.b002bb09f3d1c5f2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

At first, I 0b403c508d thought it was b29ed14ef7 the smell of ba7a19b81a hair dye from 6ccfa17f55 her head. But the deeper 5e4588e630 we went into cb02131438 the room, the 4b1254337c smell changed.32f6a3852570b568

It was the smell of oil paint. The room reeked of an artist’s studio, making it hard to believe she stayed here.761cea77e21df7c6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Scattered paint stains confirmed 9a575edf28 it. An easel was d9a625f729 knocked over, perhaps 1a9d1a24cc in her fit d8238e3a4b of rage. Next to it, though 88e15fdce8 the chair was moved, 218db17601 traces of someone painting 85a6f11745 were evident.16956bcf2facd036

Paint had smudged 9279246801 the underside of d76ac81918 the fallen canvas.fc6eb275527dacdc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I calmed 1948bb6efc my racing 3c4c184edd heart. Why was such a e57f4b67dd trivial trace making me 788ff03ee3 so anxious?3d0560e2888c2058

Suppressing my c0526cbc7d pounding heart, 0223d28f54 I carefully 89e7275ce9 flipped the 13d0748ab1 canvas over. On the revealed 94023412f3 front side, a ac340f671e face was painted.365f161af281fb75

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was 0994a698a0 an unfinished 5d9532b7fb portrait. Even someone unfamiliar 5bb4b894ad with painting could f053648b12 see the effort d50b9edfb7 put into it, 1ae283cd57 with layers of d26c632c8e paint and brushstrokes 932cd83d26 indicating a long 441a49f3fd period of dedication.12667a6eece47b9b

A woman sitting gracefully fdd4d4774e on a green chair, 40d9ca955d facing forward. The facial features a9dd32a617 were yet to 22d3694693 be completed.2ddcd89487bd5a43

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And… the woman in the portrait had breathtakingly beautiful red hair.b5a5f8dcb98aad92

The clothing the 9cb80a8666 figure wore was 11de5515e8 also familiar. It was the d25917c782 fur coat I 309d554ef9 had worn in 78b2a74f48 the north. The one I c6c9f1cf13 sold to save f0d4f0c592 Deon.922c00a475e210ec

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Upon recognizing the 52459a5e31 similarities in the f6c96fee5c portrait, my body eae0d10ba4 froze. I stood 7522dc5109 there, staring 05f7096ac0 at the 61e47f8689 painting.e9df1ee49116c8f3

A stand-in 7455a36884 was needed. One that resembled me.2824a955a7937f54

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Miss.”89885c42fe8fb769

Suren, who b4eb150064 had been d5dc93b015 standing behind 037decdb5e me, approached.8d5ee0b3134e36af

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Now you understand why she was needed, right? I don’t think further explanation is necessary.”758969e1d4c0a454

She stood the 715fc86542 easel back up. Then, she e48a286090 placed the 7e1121e1c9 canvas I 11600073c8 had flipped 9958af091d over back f50e5c26da onto it.19b7cf19b756f083

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

* * *d784446a98e1ee38

Every meal served was tailored to my taste. But I had little appetite. Deon hadn’t come to see me since that time.476fcdeaf5ee0c23

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Contrary to f5f71a3263 his threatening 9917821429 attitude of c5d5502acc reminding me 4a811121cd of a d0d44f5d70 forgotten promise, 69d2d71842 he hadn’t d3dbbeeb62 appeared in ce72d35150 front of 59d5fbb817 me, perhaps 4705ef20bf sensing my 76e2d25401 discomfort.c097815984d4d6cd

I stood by the terrace door, quietly looking at the sprawling lawn. In front of the Empress’s palace, there was no one coming or going.9546e90205f3c58a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Unable to aeddb7a7d5 sleep through 2424431a0b the long 03825f0aea night, I 5f1a05d527 decided to 30536992d9 get some 36deed75d7 fresh air.988a8866f166e9b1

Opening the terrace door 60d512e4d8 brought a chill. The weather had 42c4e90e97 become quite cold.f352dfc6f97c6507

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I stepped 6713079673 barefoot onto 0857934b8b the grass. The short grass 4156f53243 rustled, tickling the 67fa92eece soles of my ca3ccd376e feet.ed61b0206111a18d

The Empress’s palace and the Emperor’s palace stood side by side like twins. And behind the palace, the garden connected to the terrace stretched out endlessly.e07a28347db19742

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I considered walking 39db621377 towards the lake 3150e55891 to enjoy the 9980743a27 view.c035358a9fa8e462

On the path leading 222a22452a to the greenhouse, stones fa49004820 reflected in the moonlight 32e220480d caught my eye. Six stones, arranged 616a43807a in pairs and ad8df0722e in an orderly a703adb54e manner. I changed direction, 139bc9b1d2 thinking they symbolized 5b70fb65e9 the imperial palace.3b987bca5cd4e05f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As I afb008f5a2 got closer, b5123faedc the rounded 9a4f775fcb stones became 9b01572e85 clearer. Instead of 8cde37ba7d carvings representing 0077c26b4e the palace, 43f1641031 familiar names c89c0e1f76 were engraved 026e78d8b5 on them.3e2aa7cad5e618ef

The same names 73aff47373 I had caressed 045b3282cc in the north, 2264520968 now etched deeply b867f80e91 into gravestones.f6111684213865aa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The inscriptions, meticulously b548c03fef carved, stood out 04e92ffdde clearly even after 629fe12903 years, as if 3dd9b58609 refusing to let 6ea6d52b9f their names be 00dda9b027 forgotten. And there were 0d280babc6 names I could c2141b9511 never forget.ad4805a41c2f1e09

Then, I 7ec05fd8ac saw a 72b3594374 gravestone without eece036f12 a name 5181a858ee on the 69836001bd far right. Instinctively, I knew 40ed1f45f6 it was mine.9a732d95fae1718b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I approached 63a41f2de7 the smooth d30944b6bb gravestone with b540190d06 no engravings.4e1f2de46c479c96

In front 639bd9bee4 of the 84685de187 ownerless gravestone, 4186709c10 there were 61a38ac393 flowers. The petals, touched d1cdb0e2f0 by the night 5a4384a6d8 dew, looked fresh d0226d1971 as if just 545db6ec76 placed.8bc3f15a27c3ce3a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

 5336cbd97d613a7f